NATCHEZ — Out of 80 students enrolled at Holy Family Early Learning Center in Natchez, 79 showed up Monday.

“The first day is going very well. Only one student is still on vacation,” said the school’s director, Ira Young.

Further evidence of a successful first day, she said, was “we only had two criers. They were in the two-year-old group and they wanted their mamas and daddies. But as soon as we got them in and started reading them a story, they were fine.”

Holy Family Catholic School operates pre-school and kindergarten for ages 2 through 5. The school currently has a wait list, Young said.

One change at Holy Family this year is the absence, at least temporarily, of Sister Bernadette McNamara.

McNamara, who has been co-director at Holy Family Center for nine years, took at fall in her home in Natchez in March and broke her neck, Young said. However, Young said McNamara has recovered nicely and is readying for an upcoming trip to Ireland, which is where she is from originally.

Young said the Sisters of the Holy Spirit and Mary Immaculate, based in San Antonio, Texas, will be sending another representative here to work with Holy Family.

Holy Family will have another half day today and full days — 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. — begin on Wednesday.

“At this point, our children are eager to learn,” Young said.